Branding is important to be successful at selling or promoting anything. I've been reading a lot about that specific issue the lat few months. To that end, I've put the majority of my marketing efforts not into making my name more famous- but into making the Moon Maiden logo from my belt buckle more recognizable. My thinking is that a symbol means a lot more to the casual observer than a name does.
The Moon Maiden belt buckle has been a part of my life for probably over ten years and I've consistently gotten compliments on it from strangers. It has a special meaning to me and I think it is something that people instinctively like. To me, the smartest move is to get the Moon Maiden logo out there as an advance scout for the ideas behind it. I use the logo on stickers, t-shirts, posters, and wherever else I can think of. I try not have my name on much of the material that I produce featuring the Moon Maiden; I don't want to screw it up for people by indicating that the logo represents me. Influence is a process not an assault. I'd like the casual observer to think the Moon Maiden is a cool logo when they see it around town. My hope is that it engenders casual curiosity. Eventually the same people might find some literature or signage that ties it to me and they'll instinctively place the affinity that they have for the logo on me. That affinity gives my ideas a better initial standing. I owe it to my convictions to present my ideas on ADHD in the most palatable way.
Most of my life, I've been obstinate when it comes to branding. I saw it as a way to manipulate the unsophisticated masses into buying goods and services. Marketing was evil.Presently, I believe that marketing is only about influence. My objective is to influence people into considering my ideas on ADHD.
Initially, doing guerrilla marketing for myself was anathema to who I was. As a comedian, I believed that talent would win out: I'd garner recognition based solely on my comedic ability. That never happens. A comedian has to make things happen for himself- whether that means doing the marketing himself or partnering with a company to do the branding and marketing. Comedic talent and recognition are separate disciplines. Most comedians are reluctant to promote themselves for the same reason they get stage fright. They are afraid they'll be ridiculed for looking like they are trying too hard.
Since I've decided to take the comedy in the direction of informing people about ADHD, I've done some self-promotional things that have brought a ton of ridicule from the comedian community. If my objective was personal grandeur, the ridicule would be enough to shame me into stopping. My objective hasn't been personal grandeur for some time. My objective is helping talented people understand that they haven't realized their potential because ADHD (and fear of subjecting themselves to more ridicule for the manifestations of ADHD) has been dictating what they will and will not do.
I don't need to convince every single person- I just want a conversation to begin.
